Sep 15, 2010

International Day of Peace

Pinwheels for Peace
www.pinwheelsforpeace.com

Goto the website and look at the galleries - Photos of East in Gallery 6!



This is our first year participating.  
We are proud to be joining in this celebration of Peace in our school community and the world!
 

Read about it.  Join us - Propel Montour and Propel Braddock hills are also participating!



What is Pinwheels for Peace?

Source:  http://www.pinwheelsforpeace.com/

Everyday, we are bombarded with television images, video games, music, and magazine articles/newspapers that give importance to conflict and war. Violence has become commonplace and accepted as part of our society and, for some, it is a way of life. It is our hope that through the Pinwheels for Peace project, we can make a public visual statement about our feelings about war/ peace/ tolerance/ cooperation/ harmony/ unity and, in some way, maybe, awaken the public and let them know what we are thinking.

This is not political. Peace doesn't necessarily have to be associated with the conflict of war, it can be related to violence/intolerance in our daily lives, to peace of mind. To each of us, peace can take on a different meaning, but, in the end, it all comes down to a simple definition: a state of calm and serenity, with no anxiety, the absence of violence, freedom from conflict or disagreement among people or groups of people.

A pinwheel is a childhood symbol it reminds us of a time when things were simple, joyful, peaceful. A pinwheel is easily made using just about any type of material, from copy paper, to thin plastic, to lightweight metal. The stick of the pinwheel can be as simple as a pencil or as intricate as a carved stick or metal rod. Pinwheels can be made as small as one inch in diameter or as large as desired limited only by the creators materials and motivation. Pinwheels can be minimal or very complex imagination, creativity (and a mild breeze) are the only variables needed.

Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started in 2005 by two Art teachers, Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, who teach at Monarch High School in Coconut Creek, Florida, as a way for their students to express their feelings about what's going on in the world and in their lives. The project was quickly embraced by their students and the entire school community and by millions of art teachers, teachers, parents, children and adults who desire peace in our world. The first Pinwheels for Peace were installed on Sept. 21, 2005. Since then, we have grown from 500,000 pinwheels planted the first year, to three million pinwheels in 2009!




Here is what students at Propel East are saying about peace...

"I wish for peace for people in the neighborhoods to become a community."  -Vashon, 4th grade

"Peace is the nation's need."  -Mia, 3rd grade

"Peace is reachable."  -Aubrey, 4th grade

"Everyone deserves peace."  -Christian, 4th grade

"I wish for peace to flow around the world."  -Alexis, 4th grade

"Spread the peace."  -Aiden, 3rd grade

"Without peace, is nothing."  -Jarron, 4th grade


"I wish a world of peace."  -Jayson, 6th grade


"Peace means be fair and equal to the world." -DeShae Moore, 6th grade


"Your happiness is like the brightness of the sun.  Thank you for serving in the Army." -Dorian, 6th grade


"I wish everyone can be friendly."  -Dvontae, 4th grade


"Fix hate with Peace."  -Mikayla, 6th grade


"Peace is the center of the world."  -Kiara, 6th grade


"One day we will shine as bright as the sun and all become one." -Carly, 6th grade

5 comments:

  1. Love this idea! We are planning to participate in Peace Week activities at my school next week, too! Thanks for always sharing your wonderful ideas and your beautiful student artwork!

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  2. Had a great time helping all the kids with finishing their pinwheels. Loved seeing what they all thought "peace" was and how they got it down in black and white - and colors!!

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  3. Ms. Kim, We appreciate you volunteering to help in Studio 101!

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  4. Amazing! Love the pinwheels in the ground!

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